| | Expectations | Using the Green Certificate workbook | Certification testing | Program administration contacts
The Green Certificate training process is a relationship between the agriculture industry and the youth of this province. The unique relationship between Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and Alberta Education allows for the Green Certificate Program to successfully provide farm training.
Expectations
Trainee
- Attend an induction
- Train on all the skills in the book, even if you "don’t have that machinery", or "don't do that type of operation on your farm"
- Search out additional resources with your trainer to complete all skills (workshops, other producers, agri-businesses)
- Work with the trainer to test your achievement of skill competencies (i.e., on-farm testing)
- Communicate regularly with your teacher on your progress
- Attend the Certification Test at a regional test center when scheduled (call if you can’t make it)
- Turn in test report forms to your teacher to receive your credits, if incomplete develop a further training plan with your trainer
Trainers, Employers and Parents
- Attend an induction
- Provide a work site environment and conditions that support the trainee’s learning of the required skills
- Discuss all the skills and key points with the trainee, assessing previous knowledge and skill level.
- Teach to industry standards and demonstrate proper techniques and procedures using the workbook as the training guide
- Mentor the trainee on all skills even if, you don’t do that type of operation or have that type of machinery on your farm
- Encourage and support finding additional resources with your trainee to complete all skills
- Perform an on-farm test with the trainee, signing off on skill profile sheet, where competency has been achieved
- Encourage and support the trainee’s attendance at a regional certification tests.
- Communicate with the teacher/supervisor on the trainee’s progress when requested (for registered high school trainees)
- Work with Green Certificate Program staff and teachers to manage the training and testing processes, on and off farm
School Representative
- Attend an induction
- Become familiar with the program by obtaining Delivery Guidelines for Green Certificate School Representatives
- Help petition the school to purchase library resources
- Assist regional coordinator in scheduling of certificate tests for your students
- Understand the process of training, on farm tests, signing off skills and what “incomplete” means
- Inform regional coordinator of special needs or unique circumstances
How To Use This Green Certificate Workbook For Training
Each of the Green Certificate curriculums are divided into X, Y and Z training periods within the workbooks. After the trainee and the trainer have gone through the workbook assessing the trainee’s current skill levels and understanding the training process, they can decide on a training/learning plan of action. The trainer and the trainee should take into consideration the time of the year and how that will coincide with the selected training period. Each of the skills listed on the skill profile sheet will be identified as an X, Y, Z, or optional and can be worked on in any order. The trainer and trainee are encouraged to work on both required and optional skills
The workbook is the training guideline, not a textbook.
Training periods are further divided into skills, tasks and key points. The trainer works with the trainee on the key points of a task, checking off competency in each task once it is achieved. After all the skills have been mastered, an on-farm test should be held. The on-farm test allows the trainer to assess the trainee’s progress and determine readiness for a certification test. The on-farm test is a demonstration by the trainee to the trainer that he or she can discuss, perform and understand all of the skills within the training period. The trainer then signs off that skill on the skill profile sheet. A trainee will not be allowed to test at the regional test center if the skill profile sheet has not been signed off for that training period.
Certification Testing
Once the Green Certificate trainee completes a training period, he or she will be required to attend a certification test. The regional coordinator will contact the school representative with the next certification-testing date. In general, certification tests take place in fall, winter and late spring.
The school representative then contacts those students registered in Green Certificate and confirms with the regional coordinator who is ready to attend the next certification test session. The regional coordinator then notifies the school representative of each student's scheduled test time. The school representative ensures that the trainees know the date, time and location of their certification test. Because certification tests take place during the week, the student will be absent from regular school attendance.
The school representative is strongly encouraged to join students at the certification test site in order to meet the regional coordinator and discuss any concerns and successes of the program as it operates in their school, view the certification testing and have an opportunity to speak with the testers.
Certification tests are not easily scheduled with over 800 trainees across the province and over 200 producers involved as testers. If a student cannot attend, for whatever reason, it is imperative that the regional coordinator be informed at least 24 hours in advance.
After the trainee attends a certification test, he or she will have one of two results.
- Pass - The trainee returns from the certification test with a passing grade and a mark. The Green Certificate student is given one copy of the test report form for the school representative and one copy to keep. Once the school representative receives the certification test report he or she can begin the student's evaluation. It is recommended that the certification mark account for 65% of the Green Certificate grade for the training period. The remaining 35% is determined through further assessment with the trainee and trainer. The school representative then submits the final grade for the Green Certificate training period and corresponding course codes to Alberta Education.
- Incomplete - The Green Certificate student returns from the certification test with no mark and guidance for further training needed. The student returns with a copy of the test report and feedback on why they received and incomplete. No mark is given to the student as he or she is asked to do further training and skill enhancement before the next test session.
For Provincial Information and Program Administration Please Contact
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry - Provincial Program Coordinator
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